A/N: These characters belong to the wonderful J.K Rowling; I am borrowing them for these fanfics only. This is my second attempt at a Potter fanfic, I like this one more than my previous because it allows me to explore the past of our favourite characters, enjoy!
A cool breeze picked up rather randomly in the night air, causing her to pull her robes tightly around her slender frame. The trees rustled and shook violently but she was too deep in thought to notice, while her auburn hair whipped around her neck. Shimmering tones reflected off the surface of the lake when the moon cast its glow upon it; the water rippled softly making no noise at all as the waves reached the bank where she sat. It was so peaceful, just as she liked it, not even the menacing shadows emanating from the Forbidden Forest could scare her away. She played absently with her necklace, which was a curious charm that changed colour depending on the deepest desires of the wearer's heart. For weeks now, it had been emerald green.
He had been watching her intently as she sat there alone, not once daring to approach her. Simply looking at her brought him contentment, freeing him from the bonds of Hogwarts life as he sat by the castle. So many times he had wanted to go over and wrap his cloak around her and ask if she was okay out here on her own. No one ever noticed her but he was sure Dumbledore must know, he knows everything that goes on. He had been thinking for so long that he hadn't noticed she had gotten up and was heading back to the castle, straight for him.
What was that black figure at the top of the stairs? Maybe it was a person – a professor! She began to panic but then as she got closer and closer she suddenly recognised him. Relief flooded through her body like ice cold water, it was only Severus.
Shit, he thought, I can't run now, she's seen me! He looked up to see her standing over him, her green eyes piercing his own. She sat beside him rather closely, causing him to flinch and then close his eyes at the contact.
"Severus! Why didn't you come over? How long have you been sitting here?" she asked, her tone quite accusing.
"I'm sorry, I haven't been here long I mean…" his voice trailed off as he lost his trail of thought, she often did this to him.
"Next time we'll sit out here together, yes?" she said, beaming at him while her eyes twinkled majestically.
He nodded, unsure of what to say but inside his heart flared like a firework at the promise of spending more time with her. Lily was in the same year at Hogwarts as Severus although she belonged to Gryffindor house whereas he was a Slytherin. He had loved her unconditionally for two years now but had never had the courage to take their relationship further, why would she ever like him? Her eyes gave him the shivers, they were almond-shaped and shone with the most beautiful peridot green he had ever set eyes on; whenever she looked at him, he felt as though he was melting beneath her gaze. She truly was perfect to him.
They continued up to the castle together, Lily had hooked his arm with hers, bringing their bodies closer together. She often turned to look at him, his sallow and pale face as thin as it had ever been, his eyes sunken and dark but yet he made her smile brightly every time he was near. She had no idea what she did to him, his body felt frozen and he barely had any control over his own movements; except when he saw her with James Potter. His heart sank just thinking about them together.
"Sev! There you are! Ten points from Gryffindor, Evans. Get back to you dormitory!" drawled a familiar voice.
Lily sulked off without reply, but managed to throw Severus a sly smile before turning the corner out of sight.
"Hi Lucius. How come you're out so late?" Severus replied.
"Prefect duty. Why were you with her?"
"Caught her out after hours, thought I'd do the job you're supposed to be doing," he joked lightly.
Lucius chuckled and smiled at his friend before they returned to the common room together. Severus and Lucius had been quite friendly for a few years now ever since they had both become interested in the Dark Arts. Lucius saw Severus as a talented young Slytherin and took him under his wing, Severus had instantly accepted: Lucius had his connections.
As he lay in bed, Severus thought only of her. He saw the moon from out of the window across the dormitory; it seemed to pity him while it glowed superbly among the clouds and stars. Then Lucius came to mind – what would he think if Sev told him how he felt for Lily?
Lucius awoke in the morning sweating and panting from his very unwelcome nightmares. He had seen Severus kissing a girl he liked in the corner of the dungeons, holding her and caressing her…he should be the one making her moan and giggle like that. He hated those dreams, they seemed to haunt him every night and recently he'd had to smuggle Firewhiskey into the castle to get him through the nights. Lucius wiped his brow and went for a cold shower.
Severus woke too with a sweating brow, scared half to death by the dream that had swallowed him whole. He dreamt that Lily had told him she was going to marry James Potter and that she was pregnant with his baby. This had broken his heart and the pain had seeped through into his dream, torturing him like the Cruciatus Curse, it truly was never ending.
That morning, the wind had taken an odd turn and was gathering strength each minute. The sun sheltered itself behind the grey clouds, its usual warmth diluted by the developing storm. Severus and Lucius met in the Great Hall for breakfast, both equally distracted by women that had invaded their dreams; both equally unaware of the other's stresses. They never spoke throughout breakfast, tormented by visions of another man with the woman they loved. They nodded to each other finally, and left.